Friday, April 07, 2006

Investor's Business DailyHouse Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi House and Senate leaders are allowed one so-called leadership PAC in addition to their own campaign committee, the purpose of which is to make contributions to other candidates. Pelosi had two. In early 2004, the Federal Election Commission fined both PACs associated with Pelosi, the second making $5,000 contributions to 36 campaigns that had already received the maximum $5,000 allowed by law from the first.

Why just a fine? Isn't it a criminal matter?

Senate Minority Leader Harry ReidAnd when it comes to cashing in on family connections, DeLay's relatives can't hold a candle to Reid's family. In June, 2003, the Los Angeles Times reported that in the prior four years firms employing Reid's sons or sons-in-law earned more than $2 million in lobbying fees from special interests that were represented by the kids and helped by the senator in Washington.....

Jack Abramoff As we have noted, Reid got $70,000 from sources linked to lobbyist Jack Abramoff, whom Democrats tried to hang around DeLay's neck like a political albatross. John Kerry got $100,000, and Senate campaign committee chief Chuck Schumer got nearly $30,000. Schumer in 2003 quietly paid a $130,000 fine plus $120,000 in refunds to 77 donors for violations in his 1998 campaign.

Abramoff was an equal opportunity briber. The only reason Republicans got more than Democrats is that they were the party in power.

An analysis by the nonpartisan Center for Responsive Politics shows that since 1990, Democrats have taken in nearly 10% more in campaign contributions from lobbyists. In 2005, the GOP received 55% of lobbyist contributions, but in the 1990s during the Clinton administration, Democrats got 70%.